Holiday Tips for Families

The holiday season is a time of new and old traditions, and sharing in the joy and togetherness of spending time with friends and family. But for families whose loved ones are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the holidays can be stressful and overwhelming; and for family care partners, often difficult to remember the joy that holidays can bring. We have put together some tips to help you experience this holiday season even with some new challenges.

Planning can avoid holiday stress.

Individuals who experience the most difficulty with the holiday season are those who have given little thought to the challenges they will encounter. Consider ahead of time what may be expected of you, both socially and emotionally.

Take care of yourself as the care partner.

Remember, the holidays are opportunities to share time with people you love. Try to make these celebrations easy on yourself and with the person with dementia so that you may concentrate on enjoying your time together. This may mean you don’t cook and order in, or have everyone bring food.

Prepare the person with dementia for the family gathering.

Preparing your loved one for the upcoming holiday events can allow both of you to enjoy the warmth of the season. Keep their normal schedule and have a quiet space they can go if they get overwhelmed.

Prepare family members and friends.

Preparing families and friends with an honest appraisal of the person’s condition can help avoid uncomfortable or harmful situations. Assign someone willing to be a helper if your loved one is having a tough moment.

Involve everyone when selecting activities.

Involve everyone in holiday activities including the person with dementia. Check out our 5 Tips for Holiday Visits blog post for some activity and conversation ideas.

Communicate with success.

Dementia can diminish a person’s ability to communicate. Ask simple questions (yes or no), make sure they can hear you well, use props to help cue conversation.

Smart gift giving.

Encourage family and friends to give useful gifts that can engage them for visits. Check out our Holiday Gift Ideas blog post for some gift inspiration!

Safe environments in the home.

Persons with dementia may experience changes in judgment. This behavior may lead to confusion, frustration, or wandering. Consider these tips to reduce the risk of injury and situations that could be confusing to someone with dementia.

Travel wisely.

Is it in the best interest of the individual with dementia? Pick travel times where there will be less people traveling.

Reliable sources of support.

Families can call the Alzheimer’s Association at 727-578-2558 or the Alzheimer’s’ Foundation Hotline: National Toll-Free Helpline: 866-232-8484

Also check out our virtual and in-person support options and resources!